Thread: Programming Jobs Interview?

  1. #1
    left crog... back when? incognito's Avatar
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    Programming Jobs Interview?

    What goes on? Do they make you code right in front of them?
    There are some real morons in this world please do not become one of them, do not become a victim of moronitis. PROGRAMMING IS THE FUTURE...THE FUTURE IS NOW!!!!!!!!!

    "...The only real game I thank in the world is baseball..." --Babe Ruth

    "Life is beautiful"-Don Corleone right before he died.

    "The expert on anything was once a beginner" -Baseball poster I own.


    Left cprog on 1-3-2005. Don't know when I am coming back. Thanks to those who helped me over the years.

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    It all depends on the company. Many companys will administer a short programming test for compentency. It usually consists of pretty short questions that you can answer relatively fast. You can search google for programming interview questions and probably get a lot of results from M$'s notorious tests. Also they are very fond of asking brain teaser's to see if you can think "outside" of the box. When I interviewed at one company I didn't get a coding test but they basically had me tell them what I did on previous games I worked on and how I handled different situations.
    "...the results are undefined, and we all know what "undefined" means: it means it works during development, it works during testing, and it blows up in your most important customers' faces." --Scott Meyers

  3. #3
    left crog... back when? incognito's Avatar
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    Thanks for the info. Anybody else would like to add an experience? I really need to know.
    There are some real morons in this world please do not become one of them, do not become a victim of moronitis. PROGRAMMING IS THE FUTURE...THE FUTURE IS NOW!!!!!!!!!

    "...The only real game I thank in the world is baseball..." --Babe Ruth

    "Life is beautiful"-Don Corleone right before he died.

    "The expert on anything was once a beginner" -Baseball poster I own.


    Left cprog on 1-3-2005. Don't know when I am coming back. Thanks to those who helped me over the years.

  4. #4
    It's full of stars adrianxw's Avatar
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    Never had anyone code on the spot - interesting concept!

    When I interview people - it depends on their age and experience.

    University leavers have limited experience - you go a lot by what their course syllabus is supposed to have taught them, (get that from the Uni), and their grades. So interview is thinking out of the box type questions, and "how does this person fit into the team" type things, what makes them laugh, a few "what if's" when choices need to be made.

    Experienced programmers will have a more comprehensive CV, it is often easier to pick a particular project and talk about it, their contribution, successes failures - that way you can generally sniff out any bull. Again - how they fit in is important - the best coder in the world will not be an asset if they are disruptive. Unfortunaltely, many of the really good programmers are such prima donnas, that they are useless unless you have a niche - and that is rare thee days.

    I don't have time to read through reams of code, and there is no guarantee it was written by the applicant anyway. Asking for a portfolio is popular - but in my opinion, a total waste of time.

    Many agencies use personality tests, metrics and other psycho-babble - got no time for that either.
    Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity unto the dream.

  5. #5
    5|-|1+|-|34|) ober's Avatar
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    I've never had to code a single line to get a job. They asked me what projects I've worked on, what languages I know, HOW I program, and more personality stuff than anything else.

    Also for the job I have now, they wanted to know how much I knew about the environment I'd be working with (diesel engines).

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    Some companies do give programming tests. I took one. It sucks. I got a perfect score.

  7. #7
    pronounced 'fib' FillYourBrain's Avatar
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    yes, I've seen it. A job I got gave an actual written test.

    My newest former employer gave sort of a challenge after they hired me. They said they would have let me go if I couldn't do it in a reasonable amount of time. Fair enough. It was easy.

    I think they are a good idea. A degree doesn't mean you really know how to program. And lacking a degree doesn't mean you can't do the same job. So a resume isn't much to base a decision on.

    By the way, I just got a new job. Ada fun. DoD work for Raytheon.
    "You are stupid! You are stupid! Oh, and don't forget, you are STUPID!" - Dexter

  8. #8
    Code Goddess Prelude's Avatar
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    When I conducted interviews, I would typically ask various questions about what the resume said the applicant knew, just to guage what their experience level was at. Then there were a few logic problem, brain teasers, etc. to see how the applicant worked through problems. I would also generally ask them to write some code so that I could see the relative quality of their programming and make sure that they understood basics like linked lists. I used general conversation throughout the interview to determine the applicant's compatibility with the rest of the team.

    However, every interview is different, just like every interviewer is different. Usually you will be asked questions that the interviewer thinks will display your knowledge and experience. But a good interviewer will do something different depending on the applicant, each interview would be individualized.
    My best code is written with the delete key.

  9. #9
    left crog... back when? incognito's Avatar
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    Ok so this is the story. So I go for an interview for bilingual call representatives, I turn in my resume, I am given some psychological tests, english tests, spanish tests, and I passed them all with flying colors. When I go for a second interview, this lady says to me, "Hey I think that having you answer phone calls is a waste of time. I see here that you've done some C/C++, Web Page designing..........etc". " I think you would be better in our programming team", so I was like "no wait lady, see I have only done small projects at home, I haven't really coded for anything big yet, I dont' have a lot of experience". I showed her this diploma I got from a technical high school I was on, where they certified me in some internet stuff. she told me "do you know any sql, networking, cisco" so I told her no. She then told me "you could be a junior developer", so now I dont' know what to do. Now I have an interview tomorrow, being a begineer as I am whenever I code, I need a book near me, to look at some examples, on some of the things I am not really used to. She did see on my resume that I am majoring in software engineering. She told me that they needed bilingual developers, and whatever. This is a pretty big company here in Dominican Republic, and they're opening a new extension right near my house............Anybody's thoughts on this? But I am a total newbie, I have no experience and stuff, I don't know what this lady is thinking. Apparently she wants me to help other programmers for now, a junior developer until I gain some experience, to then move on.
    Last edited by incognito; 12-09-2003 at 03:52 PM.
    There are some real morons in this world please do not become one of them, do not become a victim of moronitis. PROGRAMMING IS THE FUTURE...THE FUTURE IS NOW!!!!!!!!!

    "...The only real game I thank in the world is baseball..." --Babe Ruth

    "Life is beautiful"-Don Corleone right before he died.

    "The expert on anything was once a beginner" -Baseball poster I own.


    Left cprog on 1-3-2005. Don't know when I am coming back. Thanks to those who helped me over the years.

  10. #10
    Code Goddess Prelude's Avatar
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    >Anybody's thoughts on this?
    If that's what you want to do, give it a shot. Just because you lack experience doesn't mean you won't get hired.

    >I need a book near me, to look at some examples, on some of the things I am not really used to.
    Quite frankly, anyone too arrogant to keep a reference around at all times is a fool.

    >But I am a total newbie, I have no experience and stuff
    From what I've seen, you know more about programming than I did when I got my first job.
    My best code is written with the delete key.

  11. #11
    left crog... back when? incognito's Avatar
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    Thanks, I guess I am really nervous about them having me like speed code or something. The fact that I know both languages seems to be a very important part of this, she stressed this a lot. Should I bring a copy of old projects on a burnt cd or something? Anyways she said that if I didn't get the programming job, I'd still get the call representative one, so i am cool.
    There are some real morons in this world please do not become one of them, do not become a victim of moronitis. PROGRAMMING IS THE FUTURE...THE FUTURE IS NOW!!!!!!!!!

    "...The only real game I thank in the world is baseball..." --Babe Ruth

    "Life is beautiful"-Don Corleone right before he died.

    "The expert on anything was once a beginner" -Baseball poster I own.


    Left cprog on 1-3-2005. Don't know when I am coming back. Thanks to those who helped me over the years.

  12. #12
    5|-|1+|-|34|) ober's Avatar
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    Don't bother with bringing your projects on CD. Like Prelude said, maybe they'll be good enough to mentor you for a while until you get into it good and heavy. Nothing is better than learning from peers if they know what they're doing.

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